CVE-2021-22047: Spring Framework Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-4926-qpxg-6r3w
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CVSS 5.3
CWE-668
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2021-22047 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-668: Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere) affecting Spring Framework libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves exposure of resource to wrong sphere in spring data rest. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 3.4.14, 3.5.6.

CVE-2021-22047 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2021-22047
GHSA Identifier GHSA-4926-qpxg-6r3w
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3
CWE Classification CWE-668: Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere
Affected Product Spring Framework
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.3

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2021-22047

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Spring Framework dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.springframework.data:spring-data-rest-core fixed: 3.4.14 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.data</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-data-rest-core</artifactId>
    <version>3.4.14</version>
</dependency>
org.springframework.data:spring-data-rest-core fixed: 3.5.6 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.springframework.data</groupId>
    <artifactId>spring-data-rest-core</artifactId>
    <version>3.5.6</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.data

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2021-22047, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.data

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Spring Framework in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 3.4.14), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.data command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-668: Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere, where the product exposes a resource to the wrong control sphere, providing unintended actors with inappropriate access to the resource. In Spring Framework, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

In Spring Data REST versions 3.4.0 - 3.4.13, 3.5.0 - 3.5.5, and older unsupported versions, HTTP resources implemented by custom controllers using a configured base API path and a controller type-level request mapping are additionally exposed under URIs that can potentially be exposed for unauthorized access depending on the Spring Security configuration.

CVE-2021-22047 Affected Spring Framework Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
3.4.143.5.6
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.springframework.data:spring-data-rest-core
maven/org.springframework.data/spring-data-rest-core
Maven
≥ 3.4.0
< 3.4.14
3.4.14
org.springframework.data:spring-data-rest-core
maven/org.springframework.data/spring-data-rest-core
Maven
≥ 3.5.0
< 3.5.6
3.5.6

References

NVD — CVE-2021-22047 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22047
Spring Framework Security Information SECURITY
https://tanzu.vmware.com/security/cve-2021-22047

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-22047?
CVE-2021-22047 is a security vulnerability in Spring Framework involving Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere in Spring Data REST under CWE-668: Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere.
Which Spring Framework versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 3.4.14, 3.5.6 across affected packages: org.springframework.data:spring-data-rest-core.
What version fixes CVE-2021-22047?
Upgrading to 3.4.14, 3.5.6 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is spring-data-rest-core affected?
Yes, org.springframework.data:spring-data-rest-core is affected in releases prior to 3.4.14, 3.5.6. Upgrade your dependency to 3.4.14, 3.5.6 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2021-22047?
CVE-2021-22047 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2021-22047?
CVE-2021-22047 is classified under CWE-668: Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere (The product exposes a resource to the wrong control sphere, providing unintended actors with inappropriate access to the resource.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2021-22047?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.springframework.data'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-4926-qpxg-6r3w",
  "modified" : "2022-06-22T18:29:53Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-24T19:19:03Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2021-22047" ],
  "summary" : "Exposure of Resource to Wrong Sphere in Spring Data REST",
  "details" : "In Spring Data REST versions 3.4.0 - 3.4.13, 3.5.0 - 3.5.5, and older unsupported versions, HTTP resources implemented by custom controllers using a configured base API path and a controller type-level request mapping are additionally exposed under URIs that can potentially be exposed for unauthorized access depending on the Spring Security configuration.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.data:spring-data-rest-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.4.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.4.14"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 3.4.13"
    }
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.springframework.data:spring-data-rest-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "3.5.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "3.5.6"
      } ]
    } ],
    "database_specific" : {
      "last_known_affected_version_range" : "<= 3.5.5"
    }
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22047"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://tanzu.vmware.com/security/cve-2021-22047"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-668" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2022-06-22T18:29:53Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2021-10-28T16:15:00Z"
  }
}